Nationals vs Rays Prediction 8/29/25 MLB Picks Today

The Tampa Bay Rays and the Washington Nationals meet Friday in MLB action from Nationals Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Nationals vs Rays Prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Tampa Bay Rays will send out Adrian Houser for the start here and Houser is 7-4 with a 2.88 ERA and 62 strikeouts this season. In his career, Houser is 0-0 with a 0.73 ERA and 10 strikeouts against the Nationals. Mitchell Parker will get the start the start for the Nationals here and is 7-14 with a 6.01 ERA and 87 strikeouts this season. This will be Parker’s second career start against the Rays.

Tampa Bay Rays Recap

The Tampa Bay Rays come into this game looking to bounce back from their loss at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday to sit at 64-69 this season. After this series, the Rays will head home for a series against the Seattle Mariners.

Rays Drop Back-To-Back Games

Jonathan Aranda has 113 hits with 22 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBIs. Brandon Lowe has 109 hits with 26 homers and 65 RBIs as well while Junior Caminero has 128 hits with 22 doubles, a team-high 39 home runs and 94 RBIs. Yandy Diaz has 142 hits with 25 doubles, 22 homers and 74 RBIs.

Why the Tampa Bay Rays will win

• The Nationals have lost each of their last six games against AL East opponents.
• The Rays have won each of their last eight games as favorites against NL East opponents following a loss.
• The Nationals have failed to cover the run line in 13 of their last 14 home games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Rays have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 night games against NL East opponents that held a losing record.

Tampa Bay Rays Player Prop Facts

• Brandon Lowe has hit a home run in three of the Rays’ last four games as road favorites.
• Yandy Diaz has recorded a Double in each of the Rays’ last three games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Adrian Houser has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four road appearances against NL opponents.
• Brandon Lowe has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances with the Rays as road favorites.
• Chandler Simpson ranks 2nd in the league in Steals (38) this season.

Washington Nationals Recap

The Washington Nationals come into this game looking to rebound from an 11-2 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees on Wednesday to sit at 53-80 this season. After this series, the Nationals will square off against the Miami Marlins at home.

Nationals Drop 5 In A Row

James Wood has 130 hits with 31 doubles and a team-high 26 home runs along with 83 RBIs and 15 stolen bases while also putting up 178 strikeouts. CJ Abrams has 127 hits with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs along with 27 doubles and 26 stolen bases while Luis Garcia Jr. has 25 doubles and 10 stolen bases of his own this season. 

Why the Washington Nationals will win

• The Rays have lost four of their last five games as road favorites after going to extra innings.
• The home team has won seven of the Nationals’ last eight games.
• The Rays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games after going to extra innings.
• The Nationals have covered the run line in seven of their last eight home games against American League opponents following a road loss.

Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts

• Josh Bell has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances against AL East opponents.
• Paul DeJong has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances with his team as an underdog against the Rays.

Total Runs Facts

• Eleven of the Nationals’ last 12 night games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Rays’ last six road games following an extra innings loss have gone UNDER the total runs line.

Nationals vs Rays Prediction

I’m on the Rays here. I just think that Adrian Houser is the better starting pitcher by a fair margin in this matchup. The thing about Mitchell Parker is that he has had an ERA of 12 in the month of August, and we’re not talking about one bad start. Parker’s had five starts in August where he’s allowed four runs in each. The Nationals’ bullpen is also a bit of a problem, and I think Tampa Bay gets the job done to start the series. Give me the Rays in this one.